In the vision of Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a great image. The image was of a metal man. The man was made up of four different metals, and the fourth metal deteriorated into iron and clay at the feet of the image. We have learned that the four metals represent four world empires.

Who did the head of gold represent? Dan 2:37-38 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

Would Babylon last for ever or would it be overthrown by another kingdom? Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

Each metal in the dream represented a succeeding kingdom, the kingdom of gold (Babylon) would soon give way to the kingdom of Silver which was medo-persia. But King Nebuchadnezzar did not want his kingdom to come to an end, so he had something built.

What did the king have built? Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

The King had an image built, a statue of a man that was about 100 feet tall and 12 feet wide; much like the one of his dream; except this image was made of solid GOLD, from the head to the feet was gold. King Nebuchadnezzar made a counterfeit to the image GOD had showed him in a dream, and with this image he was telling GOD that there would be no other kingdom after Babylon; there would be no breast of silver, or belly of brass or legs of iron; but Babylon alone shall rule for all time.

All the important people of the kingdom was called to come to the dedication, this of course would of included the King of Judah; along with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel was obviously out of the area at this time.

Now what were all these important people to do when they heard the music played? Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

They were commanded to bow and worship the image of Babylon. So here we see what has been a prominent part of mankind’s history; the union of religion with government: Church and State.

What would be the punishment for those who refused to bow? Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

What do the first two of GOD’s 10 commandments say? Exo 20:3-4 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

So the choice was given by the Babylonian Government, either disobey GOD and worship the way we say, or DIE.

How many bowed and worshipped the image when the music was played? Dan 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

The bible says ALL, including the ‘mighty’ king of Judah.

But there were three that refused to bow, who were they? Dan 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

What did the king do after he found out that the Hebrew boys didn’t bow? Dan 3:13-15 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The king called them forth, and told them they had another chance. You bow and worship the image when the music plays again, or I will cast you into the furnace of fire. Then Nebuchadnezzar, who knew the Jews served Jehovah who forbids his people to bow to false god, challenged the ability of GOD to save them.

How did the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answer the king? Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

They answered “Our GOD is able and will deliver us, but even if he didn’t were not going to bow”. That was a powerful answer wasn’t it? An answer that I’m sure was inspired by the holy Spirit.

What did the king do when he heard their reply? Dan 3:19-21 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

So the king called for his mightiest men in his army, and he ordered them to bind, or to tie up the three boys. And they heated the furnace 7 times hotter than usual. And these mighty men cast the boys into the fire.

The furnace was so hot that it killed the mighty men of Babylon who simply opened the door to cast the three boys in.

When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace what did he see?Dan 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

When the king looked in the furnace figuring to see the charred remains of three men, he actually saw four, who were very much alive, unbound and walking in the midst of the fire. The one who promised that he would “Never leave us nor forsake us”, was there in the midst of the fire with the three faithful servants.

What set these three Hebrew boys apart from the other professed servants of GOD?

Dan 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God

They trusted in GOD; they were willing to die rather than to disobey GOD.

OUR DAY

Notice that the Government passed a religious law that was contrary to the law of GOD. Those who were faithful to GOD were hated and betrayed by those who bowed to the pressure of Church and state. They were delivered up to the authorities and questioned. The holy Spirit inspired them with a powerful answer and then the death penalty was passed. But in the end GOD delivered them through his Son.

Will there be another ‘image’ set up, and those who do not bow to it punished with death?

Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

This doesn’t mean an actual ‘statue’, but a likeness that will cause people to worship something other than the true GOD. To understand MORE about this statue see our Revelation Chapter 13 study.

Those who worship the image will receive what? Revelation 13:16

Do you know what this ‘MARK’ means? It is a stamp (as a badge of servitude). Often landowners would mark their slaves like cattlemen branding their cattle. Their mark showed to whom they belonged. The book of Revelation is a book of contrasts. For example, you have the pure woman of Revelation 12, and you have the whore of Revelation 17. You have the Father, his Son, and their Spirit, verse the Dragon, the Beast of the sea, and the lamb-like beast. You have the true worship of the Creator verses the false worship of Satan. And of course you have the Seal of GOD verses the Mark of the Beast.

Like we said a few moments ago, the Mark of the beast is a badge or brand of servitude. What brand does God place upon his children?

Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

God’s children have his name in their foreheads, this means they are his servants. They accept his word as their authority.

How else is the “Father’s name” described?

Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

How do we receive the seal of GOD?

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

When we come to God, and accept him and his Son in our hearts, they come to us through the holy Spirit, and we are sealed.

How do we recognize those who have the Spirit thus the seal of GOD?

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If we know GOD, and have his Spirit, then we must love GOD. What will we do if we love him?

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The obvious fruit of love is obedience. Is obedience to GOD the visible mark of our servitude?

1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Are the commandments like a visible sign or seal to the children of GOD?

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 Give ear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: And the Lord your God is to be loved with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Keep these words, which I say to you this day, deep in your hearts; Teaching them to your children with all care, talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up. Let them be fixed as a sign on your hand, and marked on your brow;

Thus the seal of GOD is made visible by our actions; we show who we serve by who we obey. Notice that Jesus quoted these verses of Deuteronomy when asked what was the Greatest Commandment. He told them that GOD was ONE, and that they were to love GOD with all their heart, soul, and strength.

How does the bible describe those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast?

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast, are those who have the seal of God, through the holy Spirit; and the holy Spirit causes us to obey the Commandments of GOD.

Now, we have learned that the seal of GOD, is the Father’s name; which simply means that he is our Master, and we serve him, through the indwelling power of his Spirit.

What do you think the “Mark of the Beast” is? Revelation 13:17 So that no man might be able to do trade but he who has the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name. BBE

Revelation 13:17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. (RSV)

To have the Mark of the beast, is to have the name of the beast, just as the seal of GOD, is the name of GOD. We receive the name of the beast, when we decide to serve the beast. Like we have said before the MARK is a sign of servitude.

What example does Revelation 17 give us concerning the beast’s name?

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The great whore, who almost all bible commentaries agree is the Roman Church, has in her forehead the name BABYLON, and all those who submit to her decrees instead of to the word of GOD, receive the name of the beast.

Who do you obey dear reader? Do you have the Spirit of GOD, and is it leading you to lovingly obey GOD? Or are you satisfied with the traditions of Babylon? Do you lay aside the commandments of GOD so you can follow manmade doctrines? I tell you friends, if you love GOD you will OBEY HIM. Who ever you obey, that is your master!